Academia

Academic CV Example and Writing Guide

Academic CV example and writing guide: academic resume example, sections, publication writing, and common mistakes. Get started right away with the free Sera template.

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Before you write your Academic resume (CV), read the example below, then build your own with the same template.

How do you write a Academic resume?

What is an academic CV?

An academic CV (academic resume) is a detailed type of resume added to academic staff, Ph.D. program, scholarship, or grant applications. Its difference from a 1-2 page CV for job applications is that it completely displays your publications, research, courses taught, and projects. Therefore, it can be longer; the important thing is that it remains readable and every piece of information is verifiable.

What sections should be in an academic CV?

- Contact information (name, institution, email, ORCID, or academic profile link)
- Research interests
- Education
- Academic experience
- Publications
- Projects and grants
- Courses taught
- Conferences and presentations
- Scholarships and awards
- Professional memberships
- References
Remove any section irrelevant to the application; do not leave empty sections.

The order of sections varies depending on the application type
- Lecturer / academic staff: education, academic experience, publications, courses taught, and projects managed stand out.
- Ph.D. application: education, research interests, thesis or capstone project, relevant projects, and scholarships stand out. If you have no publications, show conferences, internships, and laboratory experience.
- Post-doc: Ph.D. thesis, publications, research projects, and methods used stand out.
Comply with the length requested by the institution or program you are applying to. If not specified, 2-3 pages are reasonable for beginners; it can get longer as your number of publications and projects increases.

How should you write publications?

Choose a citation style common in your field (e.g., APA, IEEE, or Chicago) and use the same one throughout. Group publications by type (peer-reviewed articles, proceedings, book chapters) and place the newest publication at the top in each group. Make it easy to find by writing your name in bold, do not change author order. Add a DOI or permanent link if possible. Clearly state work that has not been published yet as «in press» or «under review».

Common mistakes

- Using a different citation style for each publication
- Presenting unpublished work as published
- Not updating old information
- Burying the actual output with long explanations
- Using multi-layered tables and fancy layouts: ATS and application systems read a simple, single-column layout much better

Example academic resume (fictional)

The following example is entirely fictional; it has no relation to real individuals, institutions, or publications. Think of it as a skeleton you can replace with your own information.

Example: Research interests

Natural language processing, low-resource languages, information extraction.

Example: Education

- Ph.D., Computer Sciences, Example University (2019-2024). Thesis: «Information extraction in low-resource languages». Advisor: Prof. Dr. Name Surname
- Master's degree, Computer Engineering, Example University (2017-2019)
- Bachelor's degree, Computer Engineering, Example University (2013-2017)

Example: Academic experience

- Research Assistant, Department of Computer Engineering, Example University (2019-2024)
- Visiting Researcher, Example Research Institute (2022, 3 months)

Example: Publications

Peer-reviewed articles
1. Surname, A., & Surname, B. (2024). Example article title. Example Journal, 12(3), 45-62. https://doi.org/10.0000/example
Proceedings
2. Surname, A. (2022). Example proceeding title. Example Conference Proceedings Book, 101-108.

Example: Courses taught and projects

- Course (undergraduate): Algorithms and Programming, 2020-2024
- Project: Example National Support Program, researcher, 2021-2023

Example: Scholarships, awards, and memberships

- Example Master's Scholarship (2017-2019)
- Example Professional Association membership (2020-)

References

Available upon request. (If the application form specifically requests who will write, add their names, institutions, and emails.)

Create your own academic CV with this template

The Sera template offers a simple and readable layout with a classic serif font. The button below opens with the template selected; you can edit the sections and content according to your own academic resume and download it as an A4 PDF.

What are the frequently asked questions?

The most common questions in this industry.

How many pages should an academic CV be?
There is no fixed rule; the length requested by the institution or program you are applying to is essential. If not specified, 2-3 pages are reasonable for beginners, and it can get longer as the number of publications and projects increases. Even if it is long, put the most current and important information first.
What is the difference between an academic CV and a normal CV?
A normal CV is kept short and focuses on work experience. An academic CV (academic resume), on the other hand, details publications, research, courses taught, projects, and grants; therefore, it is usually longer.
Are an academic CV and an academic resume the same thing?
Yes, they are the same document. Application forms may call it an «academic CV» or «academic resume»; the content and sections do not change.
What citation style should be used in the publications section?
Use the style common in your field (e.g., APA, IEEE, Chicago) or the style requested by the journal or institution you are applying to. What really matters is writing all publications in the same format and putting the newest publication at the top.
What should be highlighted in an academic CV for a Ph.D. application?
Your education, thesis or capstone project, research interests, relevant project and laboratory experience, and scholarships received. If you have no publications, highlight your conference presentations and internship experience.
Should there be a photo on an academic CV?
It is not required for most academic applications. Unless the institution or program specifically requests it, do not add a photo; if they do, follow the size in the application guidelines.

Which other CV examples can you look at?

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